Staff story: “Donation through the years…”

change in legislation

I have been an NHS sperm bank co-ordinator for nearly 20 years – so I’ve witnessed the shift from anonymous to identifiable donation first hand.

I held my breath as the new legislation came in, wondering how on earth this was going to impact on the donation service. I could see that the changes were necessary and that it was a positive thing for the recipients and donor conceived … but at the same time, I was concerned that the inevitable decline in donors willing to come forward and make this huge commitment with increased personal implications was going to be catastrophic to the service.

More than 10 years on the dust has settled, and the worst did not happen. Yes it’s a struggle to recruit sperm donors. Yes the demographics of those willing to donate has shifted slightly. But essentially, we’re still very lucky to have been able to continue to provide an NHS sperm donation service – and it’s all down to the very amazing men who have not been deterred from giving this incredible gift.

we’re so grateful to our donors

Whether they donated before or after the removal of anonymity, the men are all so special – generous, brave, caring men who have given a part of themselves to allow someone else to become a parent. I wish these men could see how much their selfless act has meant, that they could see the joy and wonder on a recipients face when they proudly come to show me their new born baby.

Likewise, I wish the recipients could see the excitement and happiness when a donor is told they have been successful in helping someone have a child – it actually becomes real to them, and all those months of repeated visits and blood tests have been worth it.

the future of donation

Hopefully the next 10 years will see us making strides to recruit more UK donors and reduce our reliance on imported samples. As a donor coordinator, I would certainly hope to be able to offer recipients a choice of more than one donor – long gone are the days when I could offer a choice of 4 or 5 donors with a wide range of phenotypes!

It’s true that the change in legislation in 2005 certainly had an impact, but we are slowly making progress as the message that sperm donation is a positive experience gradually gets out there. It’s been a real pleasure and a privilege to know these amazing men, and to play a small part in the creation of so many families. The donors should be held up in our society as valued and respected individuals – far from the sometimes sad and seedy image of sperm donation that many people have. They have done an amazing thing – and I for one could never thank them enough.

Karen Pooley, Donor Coordinator
Nottingham University NHS Trust Fertility Unit